During gameplay URU crashes to desktop, freezes or I sometimes get the error: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
I,ve tried running the game in minimal game settings, played it with latest and older graphic-drivers. Both sound and video are using the same IRQ (16) but it says there is no conflict. When playing it in Windows minimal configuration (msconfig) I can play longer (unfortunatly without sound), so I presume there's a hardwareproblem with video/sound. In XP however I can't manually change the IRQ's.
Is it really a IRQ problem or perhaps something else?

Some nvidia GeForce 6s have been difficult to get to run with URU. There is a new driver version (with a stereo component too, if you need that) - 71.84. Please see if that helps.

Cherrug

03-29-2005, 06:09 AM

Thank's, but I've already tried that, it still crashes.

Mr Zebe D

03-29-2005, 06:34 AM

I don't know anything about the card. I did find this (http://www.hardwareforum.com/bbs/showthread.php?s=e8c6f989a4069dcfa942f6bf1173fce5&t=256) though. Perhaps it's worth keeping track of the other thread too.

Heimdall_G

03-29-2005, 10:06 AM

Cherrug,

The IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error indicates a device driver, system service, or BIOS problem. This is usually NOT a simple problem to solve, but maybe you'll be lucky!

First, check the System Log in Event Viewer for error messages that might indicate what caused the error. Refer to:
-- How To View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427#15)
-- Detailed Usage of the Event Viewer /AUXSOURCE Switch Option (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312216)

If you can't find anything using the Event Viewer, try the following:

-- 1. Run the hardware diagnostics supplied by Medion, if any, especially a memory scanner. For details on these diagnostics, see your PC owner's manual and/or the Medion website.

-- 2. Make certain that all system BIOS settings related to PCI Express (video card) are correct. Get into the BIOS and look, don't just assume everything is OK! Refer to your PC owner's manual and/or the Medion website for details on accessing the BIOS, as well as the correct settings.

-- 3. Disable all memory caching in the system BIOS, and reboot. If this doesn't help, re-enable the caching you disabled, and reboot.

-- 4. Check your system RAM for errors using a utility like Memtest86 (free), available here (http://public.planetmirror.com/pub/memtest86/#download0). Click on 'Download - Pre-Compiled Memtest86 v3.0 installable from Windows and DOS' under 'Memtest86 3.0 Release (22/May/2002)'. If Memtest indicates problems, go to your BIOS's Chipset Features Setup page or whatever page the memory variables like latency are on, and load the BIOS defaults (probably press F6 or F7). Then try Memtest again. If you still get errors, you've got bad RAM.

Even if you don't re-install the video driver, re-install DirectX 9.0c, available here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0a9b6820-bfbb-4799-9908-d418cdeac197&DisplayLang=en). Reboot after installing.

-- 9. Access the setup menu for your GeForce 6610. Click on the NVIDIA toolbar icon, or right-click on a blank area of the Desktop and then on Properties > Settings > Advanced > GeForce 6610 XL. As a first pass, set your choices as closely as possible to:
-- Anisotropic filtering (AF) and antialiasing (AA) 'off' or 'controlled by application'. If AF or AA optimization is a choice, set it to 'off' or 'none'.
-- Trilinear optimization to 'off', 'none', or 'controlled by application'.
-- Vertical sync to 'controlled by application'.
-- Image setting midway between 'performance' and 'quality'.

Also, try various setting combinations to see what works, especially with AF and AA.

Play Uru after each disable, and leave previously-disabled items disabled when disabling the next item.

-- 11. Re-enable all software acceleration items, then go to Control Panel (System) and turn off Graphics Hardware acceleration. Play Uru.

Cherrug

03-29-2005, 12:58 PM

There's some light in the darkness! I can play URU when I turn off sound. The graphic-settings all in optimal position, no crash or freeze, i've played for 2 hours! Unfortunatly without sound. I assume there is a hardware conflict between video and audio drivers both using same IRQ, although both devices are reported working OK. According to Microsoft: several devices using the same IRQ must not be a problem, but this is the only explanation I have. I've tried the Omega-driver (mentioned somewhere else on this forum),just to see if it got another IRQ, but no luck,the same IRQ (16) was used, turning on sound the game crashed within 10 min. Now playing with 71.84 driver but turned sound off.
So, is it possible to change the IRQ manually?
The LIRQ_NOT.... etc error I haven't had for a while, but i'll look into it.
Great forum!!!!

Mr Zebe D

03-29-2005, 02:19 PM

Yes, you can set the IRQ manually, but you have to change the BIOS to do it.

On older motherboards you had to set PnP OS to on or off (I can't remember which). I think for newer ones you may have to set IRQ for VGA to on (if you have it), or change the IRQ settings per slot from auto to something specific.

I was surprised that you're getting 16 as a setting, by the way. I didn't know that there were 32 (0 to 31) until just now.

Old Soundblaster cards needed IRQ 5. What you could try is moving your soundcard to a PCI slot in the middle of your motherboard, and setting its IRQ to 5. The IRQ of the AGP slot is shared with one of the PCI slots if I remember correctly. Try setting that to 10.
If you have a USB mouse, IRQ 12 becomes free. 11 should be free if not.

Heimdall_G

03-30-2005, 09:09 AM

Cherrug,

You originally asked, "Is it really a IRQ problem or perhaps something else?" My set of suggestions is intended to allow you to determine whether it's "something else", prior to attempting to deal with an IRQ conflict. The suggestions have a reasonably good chance of solving the Uru sound problem, but no guarantees, of course.

An interrupt (IRQ) conflict with Win XP is rather rare. And fixing an IRQ conflict is not a simple matter, as you'll see if you refer to:
-- A general description of IRQ sharing in Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314068)
-- HOW TO: Manage Devices in Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283658)
-- How To Configure Devices By Using Device Manager in Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307970)
-- Unable to change resource settings in Windows XP Device Manager (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315278), which explains why you may not be able to change BIOS IRQ settings
-- How To Debug a System After You Receive Stop Error IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (0xA) (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;818501)

Try MrZBD's suggestions, certainly. (Except that your C-Media sound chipset is integrated on the motherboard, so you can't move it.) You may get lucky!

It's also possible that you have a multiple driver conflict problem. This can sometimes be diagnosed and fixed using Win XP's Driver Verifier utility. See How to Use Driver Verifier to Troubleshoot Windows Drivers (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;244617).

Cherrug

03-30-2005, 02:45 PM

I've played URU for several hours, step by step changing the game settings. It freezes when I use the full hardware accelaration for sound.
All other game settings are at max.
The IRQ problem didn't occur latetly, but I'll keep it in mind, don't wanna spend time yet solving this problem: URU waits........
Thanks for the support!
Topic can be closed

Cherrug

03-30-2005, 04:03 PM

Update:

In URU setup, audio, following settings:
audio: enabled
hardware acc.: disabled
load on demand: disabled
ultra: game feezes, have to re-boot manually
high: XP re-boots
medium: XP re-boots after 30 min. game play
try low settings in the coming days and keep in touch.
By the way: what does load on demand means???

Mr Zebe D

03-31-2005, 01:24 AM

Are you only playing URU - Ages beyond Myst? There's a free expansion pack called To D'ni, and a paid one beyond that called The Path of the Shell. (This assumes that you're not playing URU Complete Chronicles which contains all three).

To D'ni changes (reduces) your audio tab options - Enable audio (y/n), Hardware acceleration (y/n), Enable EAX (which you'd need to set to n (unchecked) as it's for Soundblaster cards only) and the slider for the number of sounds.

There should be links around the place to a download site for To D'ni.

Cherrug

04-04-2005, 01:49 PM

OK , downloaded and installed the expansion pack and played URU with soundsetting in the lowest position and this goes well. If I move the slider one step, XP re boots so I'll have to live with that for now.
Thanks for all the help!!